| Country: | England |
| Static Image Name: | Harescombe_Church.jpg |
| Static Image Caption: | The Church of St. John the Baptist |
| Coordinates: | 51.791°N -2.239°W |
| Official Name: | Harescombe |
| Population: | 247 |
| Population Ref: | (2011)[1] |
| Civil Parish: | Harescombe |
| Shire District: | Stroud |
| Shire County: | Gloucestershire |
| Region: | South West England |
| Constituency Westminster: | Stroud |
| Post Town: | Gloucester |
| Postcode District: | GL6 6 |
| Postcode Area: | GL |
| Dial Code: | 01452 |
| Os Grid Reference: | SO8310 |
Harescombe is a small village in Gloucestershire, England.[2] It is situated 5miles south of Gloucester. It is thought the name of the village is derived from a combination of the Celtic term "cwm" (valley) and the Saxon term "here" (army), thus the full meaning of "Harescombe" would be "the Army's Valley".[3]
The community is indeed in a valley as it rests at the foot of the well-known range of the Cotswolds called the Haresfield Beacon and Broadbarrow Green, which were sites of ancient British and Roman encampments. These encampments were a part of a chain of fortresses expressly mentioned by Tacitus as having been raised by Ostorius Scapula between the Severn and Avon Rivers: old British works adapted by the Romans to their own requirements.[3]
Hilles House was designed by Detmar Blow. He built the mansion for himself after 1914,[4] [5]
The Church of St. John the Baptist in Harescombe was constructed in the 13th century. It was consecrated in 1315. The walls are ashlar limestone, and the roof is of stone slate. The church has an unusual bellcote and a small octagonal stone spire, as well as small octagonal pinnacles on the four sides. Small iron crosses were added to these pinnacles in 1870–71 when Francis Niblett restored the church.[6] The belfry has two bells, one of which has been determined to be the oldest bell (circa 1180) in Gloucestershire.[7]
Several of the memorial inscriptions on markers in the adjacent graveyard date from the 17th century, with the oldest being for Thomas Roberts, Gent., dated 20 January 1632.[8]
The Church of St. John the Baptist is a grade 2* listed building with English heritage.[9]